Home PodcastJulie Alli National State of Disaster could create more problems than solutions

National State of Disaster could create more problems than solutions

by Luqmaan Rawat
While the presidency is considering a National State of Disaster, experts warn it could be detrimental to the country Photo Business Tech Africa

South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering calling the energy crisis a National State of Disaster. The last time it was enacted was during the Covid-19 pandemic during March 2020. While government believes this can help solve the energy crisis, many experts and politicians do not share the same sentiment.

South Africans witnessed what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic. The South African government failed to produce any innovative ideas. Instead, it followed what other countries were doing. The energy crisis is a self-created disaster and political analyst, Prof Sipho Seepe, wonders how the government will deal with this effectively.

“With this self-created crisis in this country, now the president is trying to say we should go that route. One must also understand that it is also a reflection of a regime that has reached an intellectual and political cul-de-sac. The president was given the responsibility to deal with the energy crisis as far back as 2015 and he has made a number of promises. There was a moment when the loadshedding was addressed. That was between 2016 and 2017. The loadshedding came with him.”

 

The hosts of problems the National State of Disaster could bring with it

Ramaphosa has promised endlessly to end loadshedding. Recently though he has stopped making promises and has told the country to prepare for loadshedding. With how much destruction loadshedding has done, the country is already in a state of disaster, expressed Seepe. 

“We are already in a state of disaster but that may not require us to start now abandoning the normal processes of dealing with this … We might end up with Ramaphosa’s businesses or his friends making a meal out of this crisis … We must be worried but now that we know it will be up to South Africans to say are we going to be ready for this? There are people who see this as an opportunity to get rich because once you suspend the normal process of procurement, there’ll be those who are going to benefit. Ultimately, the ordinary taxpayers are going to suffer.”

When it comes to this Ghaleb Cachalia, Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance, has promised he and the party will do their utmost to ensure funds are used correctly. They have learnt from the past and will not repeat those mistakes.

“We will do our absolute best. We have learnt from the Covid debacle. We will have every leader in parliament held accountable. We will not rest until we are absolutely sure we have covered every single base in that regard and we will push for transparency and independence in terms of experts monitoring this particular exercise.”

Cachalia insists if any looting or maleficence is detected, they will ensure it is attended to immediately. They will not hesitate to take those people to task.

SMread: DA’s Attempt to Address its White Image – Prof Seepe

 

What the National State of Disaster means for South Africans

Cachalia is glad the president is responding to their demands and pressure. The president was very reluctant towards the idea but it seems he is now ready for it. Cachalia firmly believes this is the only action to take and they will support it as long as the president acts in the appropriate manner. 

“This is no joke. The nation has suffered. It has suffered economically. People have suffered in their homes, small businesses have died, our growth has shrunk and investments in the country has almost bolted. This must come to an end and if it doesn’t, we are in big trouble.”

The State of Disaster, if enacted, will place the focus on Eskom. Fixing what is broken and allowing excess generation to fill the gap, explained Cachalia. However, if a National State of Disaster is called, there is no telling what could happen as this hasn’t been unpacked by government, he said. 

Cachalia made it clear that if a National State of Disaster is called and it is not to the benefit of the people, then they will take action in parliament and South Africans must let their voice be heard. Whatever happens, the decision must be to the benefit of the South African people.

To hear more from Ghaleb Cachalia on the likelihood of ending the energy crisis, you can listen to the podcast here

 

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